Margaret Kenna,
People Services Specialist, Laois

For the moment, it looks like I will spend my summer locally around Laois/Kilkenny. Where I live in Co. Laois, there are some lovely walks and we have the “Leafy Loop” which is a 23km walk around the woodlands of Durrow, extending along country lanes, riverbanks and forest track. Walkers come from far and wide to complete the loop.

I enjoy walking there year-round and during the summer would go more often when the bluebells are out – it’s really beautiful.

With some good news in recent weeks about the easing of lockdown restrictions, I’m hopeful we’ll get to socialise again and meet up with friends at Castle Durrow for dinner or meet up for coffee and lunch in Bowes Foodhall. As long as the weather holds up of course!

Dáire O’Brien,
Business Development Manager, Killarney

My wife Ciara is a hotel manager so during the busy holiday periods, we tend not to venture too far from home so she can be close enough help out at work when needed. Luckily, Kerry is full of hidden and not so hidden gems that are easily reachable on day trips.

With a four-year-old, Rossbeigh beach is a real favourite as it has plenty of parking, a large playground and since the pandemic, a little converted horsebox selling great coffee just at the entrance to the fairy forest walk on the road to the beach. Between swimming, the playground and the forest walk, it makes for a really lovely day out. Stopping off in Emilie’s in Glenbeigh for some Italian pizza en-route back to Killarney is the perfect finish.

Sean Atkinson,
Sales Development Manager, Kilkenny

Like many, I will not travel abroad this summer due to travel restrictions, but I’m looking forward to taking some time off work and going back home to the west of Ireland to do some sailing around Inishmore Island and back to Rossaveal Harbour. Something on my bucket list for a while now is to take in the Wild Atlantic Way, in particular the stretch from the Cliffs of Moher down to Loop Head. Now that I’m living in Kilkenny, I plan on being a tourist in my own backyard with a visit to Kilkenny Castle and hopefully soak up more of the great local culture that Kilkenny has to offer!

“Keep the sunny side out even when it rains”

Yvonne Owens,
Whey Intake Manager, Ballyragget

Having not been home since Christmas, I’m really looking forward to getting back to Sligo as much as possible this summer. I can’t wait to spend time with family and friends, enjoying the beautiful beaches of the west coast with them – in particular Raghly in Sligo and Keem in Mayo. There’s also a beautiful hike in Strandhill covering Queen Maeve’s trail and Killaspugbrone that I want to take in – the views are spectacular.